Abstract:

Zimbabwe is ranked 17thamong the 22 high
burden TB countries (HBC) in the world and has the second highest TB mortality
rate in the world. Tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of infant and
maternal mortality, and top five causes of death in children 1 – 4 years old
(Zimbabwe National Health Profile, 2008). In 2008 pulmonary tuberculosis was
the leading cause of death in the age group 5 years and above and the second
most common cause of death in hospitals in all ages, after acute respiratory
infection (National Health Profile). The crude death rate is 20 per 1000 and is
mainly attributed to the high co-morbidity with HIV.